Bittersweet for Winchester after another runner-up finish
Controversial traveling call late in game will be lamented by Golden Falcon fans for years to come
By TOM BYRUM
News-Gazette Sports Writer
INDIANAPOLIS - It was another Indiana high school basketball thriller
For Winchester, it was another heartbreak.
The final score saw Fort Wayne Bishop Luers defeating Winchester 69-67 to claim the 2008 IHSAA Class 2A boys' basketball state championship Saturday afternoon at Conseco Fieldhouse.
It was the first boys' basketball state championship for Luers, and it was the third time Winchester would have the bittersweet taste of being the runner-up.
On this Saturday, the little bit of luck needed to separate two greatly matched teams went to the squad from Fort Wayne, not to the lads from Randolph County.
The Falcons used their experience and determination to defend the quicker, bigger Knights. Some thought Luers had more talent. That's debatable.
In the end, one crucial call going against Winchester and a few shots not dropping resulted in Bishop Luers claiming the championship.
During the first three quarters, Winchester fought off the Knights to maintain the lead. After trailing 10-7 early, Winchester finished the first quarter strong with a 13-2 run that send the Falcons in front 20-12 after eight minutes of play.
Five Falcons had contributed in the scoring during that first stanza. There was an inside bucket by Clayton Briggs, four points by Brock Morrison, there were a pair of free tosses by Andrew Haney, a trey from Lucas Wickersham and nine points and a pair of blocks from Tyler Koch.
Koch was just warming up as he followed that first period with 11 points in the second. But the rest of Winchester's scoring in that second stanza was reduced to just Morrison, who tossed in six.
Luers was slowly figuring out Winchester's defense, a match-up box-and-one, with the one primarily being Wickesham on Luers' sensational sophomore DeShaun Thomas.
While every Falcon pitched in to help, double teaming, triple teaming, even quadruple teaming Thomas, the Knights stayed committed to get the ball to their 6'7" talent and he responded.
After being held to just one three-pointer in the first quarter, Thomas erupted for four buckets in the second. Making matters worse for the Falcons, freshman Evan Blackmon and junior Troy Amos starting to hit the outside shots for Luers, combining for four more buckets in the second quarter. Count in a pair of free throws by the lightning fast Lawrence Barnett and Luers trimmed Winchester's edge to a five-point margin at the half, 37-32.
And even though the Falcons had the lead, momentum had started to turn to the Knights as Thomas' final bucket of the first half came on a fast break with teammate Kenny Mullen out if front, tossing the ball high off the glass for the trailing Thomas to grab and slam home with a two-handed dunk.
The Knights, self-proclaimed as a second half team, quickly backed up that statement with a 10-4 run to open the third quarter, taking a 42-41 lead at the 5:40 mark on another Barnett transition lay-up. The battle was on from there.
Koch maintained his pace, tossing in 10 points in the third period, including a dunk of his own as he spun away from his defender to drive the baseline and ram it home.
Brock Ward added a pair of scores to keep Winchester in stride.
A driving score by Haney, along with four points by Morrison rounded out Winchester's offensive output in the third.
The Knights countered with five from Thomas, six from Barnett, a trio of triples from Blackmon and another trey from Amos. The end result was Winchester clinging to a 57-54 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Amos knocked down his third three-pointer of the game to start the fourth quarter, tying the game at 57-57.
Koch answered with the next three points for Winchester, only to have Thomas match that to once again tie the game at 60-60.
Ward found a jumper but that was matched by Blackmon, tying the game at 62-62 with 5:20 to play.
A Koch bucket was then matched by a pair at the line by Barnett and the game was tied at 64-64 with 3:56 to play.
After a pair of missed opportunities by Winchester, the Knights took the lead. A wild scramble resulted in a fast break bucket by Jake Kuhn - his only bucket of the game - but it was a big one as Luers went in front 66-64 with 1:26 on the clock.
And then came the controversail call by official Jerry Taylor that Winchester and possibly everyone who either watched on listened to the game will talk about for years to come.
As Morrison broke free on a fast break, going one-on-one against Thomas, Morrison stopped, pumped faked to get Thomas off his feet, and while Thomas came down, Morrison hung and fired, banking the shot in high over the outstretched arms of Thomas. As Thomas fell into Morrison on his follow-through, the whistle blew for what most thought was going to be an opportunity for a three-point play. Winchester had tied the game and Morrison would be shooting for the go-ahead free throw.
Instead, the Taylor's whistle resulted in Morrison being called for a travel violation and the entire 2200-plus Winchester contingent came to their feet in disbelief.
Making matters worse, the instant replay on the big screen added salt into the Falcons wound.
Suddenly the complexion of the game changed. Winchester now was forced to foul to stop the clock. With :44.7 seconds showing Barnett went to the line and calmly hit a pair, sending the Knights in front 68-64.
Koch answered back with a pair of his own, making it 68-66 with :32.3 to play. Winchester then got what it needed, a steal. Throwing the full-court press at Luers, Barnett elected to try and split Winchester's best two defenders, Daniel Maggart and Wickersham. Maggart got the deflection with Wickersham diving for the loose ball and immediately asking for a time out. Out of the break, Morrison drove hard to the bucket and drew a foul, sending the senior to the line for the one and bonus. Morrison missed the front end, but again Maggart was active and tipped the ball back to Morrison. Again Brock took the ball to the Knights and again he was fouled, this time awarded two shots. Unfortunately, Morrison hit only one of two, leaving the score at 68-67 with :17.2 to play. As Luers successfully got the ball in-bounds, Winchester had to foul quickly, sending Barnett back to the line with :15.2 on the clock. Barnett hit one of two, giving Winchester's its last chance. Going right into their offense, the Falcons found Morrison curling to the bucket. Morrison drove hard, but his shot would not drop and no foul would be called. Thomas secured the rebound and on the horn sent it flying in jubilation of the Knights' victory.
Another heartbreaker for Winchester.
Koch was spectacular, scoring a Class 2A championship record-breaking 37 points, while also breaking the Class 2A record for the most field goals in one game with 15. Koch had made 15 of 24 from the field, blocking three shots while claiming six rebounds. Morrison was the only other Falcon to reach double figures, scoring 15 while pulling down a team high 8 rebounds. Ward also grabbed six rebounds to help Winchester out-board the Knights 35-29. The Falcons connected on 25 of 49 from the field, 51% while hitting 12 of 20 at the line, 60%. Winchester committed 14 turnovers.
Luers, improving to 24-3, had great balance. Thomas worked for every one of his 20 points, nearly 10 points below his average. Thomas had also was held to just five rebounds, also nearly 10 below his average.
Barnett followed with 18 while Blackmon's 15 and Amos' 13 rounded out the Knights' double digit leaders. Luers connected on 25 of 56 from the field for 47 percent while hitting 11 of 18 at the line, 61 percent. The Knights committed 10 turnovers.
Winchester's campaign ends at 23-4. Along the way were championships in the Randolph County Tourney, the Tri-Eastern Conference, the Alexandria Sectional, the Greenfield-Central Regional and the Seymour Semi-State.
For his commitment as an IHSAA role model and an outstanding young man, Lucas Wickersham received the Arthur L. Trester Mental Attitude Award after the Class 2A championship game.
Parents Julie and Mike Wickersham enjoyed the experience with Lucas. Wickersham becomes the third Winchester player to win the award as Scott Study received the Trester award in 2000 while Thad Laudenbacher received the honor in 2007.
Score by Quarters
Falcons 20 37 57 67
Knights 12 32 54 69
GOLDEN FALCONS - Koch 3-12-4/6-1-37; Maggart 0-0/0-2-0; Wickersham 1-0-0/0-2-3; Ward 3-0/0-2-6; Haney 1-2/3-2-4; Morrison 1-3-6/9-4-15; Briggs 1-0/0-3-2;Cross 0-0/1-0-0 Totals 5-20-12/20-16-67
KNIGHTS - Williamson 0-0/0-2-0; Day 0-1/2-3-1; Thomas 2-6-2/2-2-20; Barnett 5-8/12-3-18; Blackmon 3-3-0/0-2-15; Mullen 0-0/2-0-0; Amos 3-2-0/0-3-13; Kuhn 1-0/0-2-2. Totals 8-17-11/18-18-69
